Apco keeps fuel prices in line

BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth.

The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review.

The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.

Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning.

Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.

“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.

“Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.

The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.

“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said,

“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.

“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”

Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.

“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said.

“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”

| Bendigo Weekly | 29-Apr-2011 11.19

The BP outlet in Condon Street, Kennington is another one who at times puts its fuel prices up a couple of days prior to a weekend then brings it back by the end of the weekend.
If it was not for Apco service stations in Bendigo, we would be paying higher fuel prices. Well done Apco.
The government will do nothing as the higher the prices, more money in their basket.
It’s amazing all the excuses to warrant price hikes when queried what is causing it.
Ray Cassidy,
Strathdale.

Causing a ripple over petrol

Regarding your piece on the extraordinary price increase of fuel, (Bendigo Weekly, April 21) I can clearly say I will never use BP again.
I filled my empty car on April 17 for $149.9 at Long Gully.
I believed the price must have been reflected throughout the city but was truly gobsmacked to see it 10 cents cheaper everywhere else.
It cost me an extra $12 to fill and as a single mum with three kids I found this just ridiculous.
I may only be a ripple on the pond of BP’s enterprises but
will be encouraging my friends to do so also.
Joanne Grech,
Bendigo.

Does council want a playground?

I think the City of Greater Bendigo council needs to admit it does not really want a children’s playground in Hargreaves Mall.
It just wants some arty flash bang thing put in under the guise of a playground.
If it was serious about a playground, why not ask the kids which one they want.
Both my boys preferred the top playground (Bendigo Weekly, April 15, page 5). It had things to climb and slide.
The only thing said about the other playground was it would be a target for graffiti.
If it put in a decent playground, that may encourage more families into the mall and the more families you have, maybe the less teenagers.
I had one person say to me that the mall is now so oppressive, maybe that is a small contributor to the anti-social behaviour.
Maybe they are right, it certainly isn’t a cheery, happy looking place
Karyn Flynn,
Bendigo.

Help me make a difference in the CBD

With the ongoing debate about the CBD, you could be forgiven for thinking that central Bendigo was dying.
I think there is a chance, right now, to make a positive difference to our community and make the CBD shine again.
I have come across an exciting idea, but it’s one that I can’t make work by myself.
I’m looking to link up with like-minded people to help bring it
to life.
Email me at michael@michaeltoman.com.au and we can have a chat.
Michael Toman,
Bendigo.

April Fool raises important point on Fortuna

The recent April Fool’s Day joke (Bendigo Weekly, April 1) about Fortuna Villa becoming a casino, whilst humorous and no doubt taken seriously by some, raises the question once again.
What is the future of this historically important icon of Bendigo?
I am aware of the previous government’s verbal support for retention in public hands of the villa and its grounds, and I am aware that there are groups of citizens in Bendigo lobbying for this retention.
Outside of these groups, a significant number of citizens support this, but further questions remain.
What success has been achieved by the lobby groups?
Is there in fact a ‘grand plan’ for the future use of Fortuna by the
community should an acquisition be successful?
Given that three levels of government are involved, what is council’s actual attitude to this acquisition?
J Lilley,
Strathfieldsaye.

Stop wasting money in the mall

I was reading your article about the Bendigo council wanting to waste a fortune on a totally unnecessary piece of junk and an eNoore in the mall.
The mall has already lost business due to the new mall design.
Stop wasting money on unnecessary rubbish, and put the money to fixing the road infrastructure that has not been repaired since the January 2011 floods.
Vincent Bons,
Heathcote.

Palming off the dirty jobs to the Scouts

I feel I must write to mention the state of the Bendigo Creek.
I rang up local councillor James Reade, but sadly never received a call back. I also got in touch with different authorities to complain about a part of the creek and I was told that they would get there eventually.
Then I saw it was mentioned that the clean-up was part of Scout clean-up.
I was disgusted with that. To palm off an unpleasant job, I thought that was pretty lousy.
I know this could not happen overnight but it never seems to get in council budgets.
Joy Miles,
Bendigo.

Plan now for Bendigo’s successful future

Bendigo appears to be grappling with some major issues that will impact on the future for all our residents.
There are no simple solutions, however, the debate and consultation is good so when the views of the residents are heard and taken notice of we will end up with better outcomes.
Why would anyone seriously contemplate a truck route through a residential area such as Quarry Hill? Bendigo can plan better for the future.
Will malls and playgrounds improve the plight of traders? Is the answer to better service customers and visitors with increased access?
Is the Easter Festival losing its interest for locals? If so, what will keep our tourists coming to Bendigo?
The character of the festival was lost when, whoever was responsible, pushed the showies from pillar to post, instead of consulting them about location.
If we could expand on what the Chinese association provides during Easter it may be a step in the right direction.
The bigger picture projects such as the state-of-the-art 1000 seat performance venue in Bendigo are fantastic, just make sure the early planning is correct and it is 1000 seats and not 2000 that will be required to bring more events to Bendigo.
We need to stop doing things in half measures.
A shortage of pre-school places is becoming a major issue. Perhaps we need to utilise the schools flagged for closure to establish more pre-schools in the future?
Why not use some of the old school sites to develop three or four new pre-schools on the one site?
Develop a new model for pre-school delivery infrastructure in Bendigo, set the scene for the future for the rest of the country.
Aged care places and shortages of same has to be an issue in Bendigo.
Again, limited planning in our area by governments will see this become a greater problem in the future. Bendigo should be doing everything possible to encourage private investment for Bendigo in the aged care sector. There are no easy answers.
I do think much of the planning has to be instigated and led by the City of Greater Bendigo staff.
Gavin Butler,
Eaglehawk.